Download The Electromagnetic Spectrum

THE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
• Electromagnetic radiation can be described in terms of
a stream of photons, which are massless particles each
traveling in a wave-like pattern and moving at the
speed of light.
• Each photon contains a certain amount of energy, and
all electromagnetic radiation consists of these photons.
• The only difference between the various types of
electromagnetic radiation is the amount of energy
found in the photons.
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
•
A wave is a vibration that is propagated in space.
•
The wave of the electric field and the wave of the magnetic field are perpendicularly to the
direction of propagation and to each other.
•
Any electromagnetic wave is characterized by two parameters: its frequency and its
wavelength.
WAVELENGTH
• A wavelength=the distance from one wave crest to the next
• Radio waves have longest wavelength and Gamma rays have
shortest!
WAVELENGTH UNITS
• Meters
• Nanometers (1 nm = 10-9 meters)
• Angstroms
• Named for Swedish Astronomer who first
named these wavelengths
• 1 nanometer = 10 Ao
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
More than meets the eye!
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIATION IN THE EM
SPECTRUM
• Radio: Yes, this is the same
kind of energy that radio stations
emit into the air for your boom
box to capture and turn into your
favorite Mozart, Madonna, or
Metallica tunes. But radio waves
are also emitted by other things
... such as stars and gases in
space. You may not be able to
dance to what these objects
emit, but you can use it to learn
what they are made of
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIATION IN THE EM
SPECTRUM
• Microwaves: They will
cook your popcorn in just a
few minutes! Microwaves in
space are used by
astronomers to learn about
the structure of nearby
galaxies, and our own Milky
Way!
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIATION IN THE EM
SPECTRUM
• Infrared: Our skin emits infrared light,
which is why we can be seen in the dark by
someone using night vision goggles. In
space, IR light maps the dust between stars.
• Visible: Yes, this is the part that our eyes
see. Visible radiation is emitted by
everything from fireflies to light bulbs to
stars ... also by fast-moving particles hitting
other particles.
• Ultraviolet: We know that the Sun is a
source of ultraviolet (or UV) radiation,
because it is the UV rays that cause our skin
to burn! Stars and other "hot" objects in
space emit UV radiation
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIATION IN THE EM
SPECTRUM
• X-rays: Your doctor uses them to look at your
bones and your dentist to look at your teeth. Hot
gases in the Universe also emit X-rays
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIATION IN THE EM
SPECTRUM
•
Gamma-rays: Radioactive materials (some natural and others made by man in things like
nuclear power plants) can emit gamma-rays. Big particle accelerators that scientists use
to help them understand what matter is made of can sometimes generate gamma-rays.
But the biggest gamma-ray generator of all is the Universe! It makes gamma radiation in
all kinds of ways
EXAMPLES FROM SPACE!
HOW LIGHT OR ELECTROMAGNETIC
RADIATION IS USED IN ASTRONOMY
• Astronomers use a tool called a spectroscope
to separate starlight into its colors – in this way,
they can tell what a star is made of, its
temperature, luminosity and so on…
• Astronomers can look at astronomical objects
at different wavelengths…